Stand cabinet construction



A ril 29, 1969 Sheet Filed Sept. 8, 1967 INVENTOR Jack Solomon 3/ v A11. 5h J WMVV \i! W m o F Q ivflfinhriiii 2 x 3 1 1 4 ATTORNEY April 29,j sb oMo STAND CABINET CONSTRUCTION Sheet Filed Sept. 8, 1967 FlG.4

FIG.8

United States Patent CONSTRUCTION to Lincoln Metal a corporation ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is directed to a stand-type,space-saving cabinet construction in which a cabinet is supportedbetween a pair of spaced-apart upright stanchions which are normallyincapable of being supported in an upright position unless the cabinetsupported thereon is backed-up against a vertical wall. Each stanchionis provided with forwardly and laterally extending foot portionsarranged to normally tilt the stanchion in the direction of thesupporting wall. The cabinet supported between the stanchions comprisesa full open front, box-type cabinet provided with a plurality of closuresections which includes slidably mounted section for movement along thefront opening of the cabinet and to which there are connected one ormore hingedly mounted closure sections arranged to pivot relative to theslidable closure section.

Specification This invention relates to a stand-type cabinet, and moreparticularly to a cabinet supported between a pair of spaced apartupright stanchions having an overall height which is less than thefloor-to-ceiling height of a room in which the stand cabinet is to beused, and which stand cabinet is incapable of being supported in anupright position unless backed against a vertical wall.

Heretofore, stand cabinetsof the type to which this invention relatescomprised generally of a pair of stanchions which were required toextend between the floor and the ceiling. With such stanchions variousmeans were provided to wedge the ends of the stanchions between thefloor and the ceiling to secure them in an upright position. With thestanchions so secured, a cabinet was sup ported between the spacedstanchions intermediate the height thereof. However, the disadvantagesof such stand constructions required that the stanchions be of excessivelengths. Also means were required for securing and/or wedging the endsof the stanchions between the floor and the ceiling. Because thedistance between the floor and the ceiling varied from building tobuilding, standardization of such stanchions was difiicult if notimpossible to achieve. To obviate this problem and to achievestandardization, such stanchions were made of telescoping sections whichcould be extended and retracted between predetermined limits toaccommodate any variance in ceiling heights from building to building.However, with stanchions of this type, relatively complicatedtelescoping mechanisms and stops were required to fix the stanchions inan adjusted position. As a result considerable cost, engineering andmanufacturing effort were required to produce satisfactory stanchionsfor such stand-type cabinet constructions. In addition, due to theexcessive lengths of such stanchions, considerable difficulty wasencountered in the handling, shipping and storage of such standcabinets.

The cabinet portion of such stand-type cabinets was generally providedwith conventional hinge closures and/ or sliding closures. Where suchcabinets had an excessively wide frontal opening, as for example wherethe length of the front opening exceeded several times the depth of3,441,329 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 the cabinet, a closure for such cabinethinged at one end would project outwardly therefrom an excessive amountwhen opened. If a slide-type closure were used on such wide cabinetopenings, access to the interior of the cabinet was limited to the widthof the sliding closure panel.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improvedstand cabinet in which the stanchions for supporting the cabinet neednot be provided with a height equal to the distance between the floorand ceiling of a room in which such stanchions are to be used.

Another object of this invention is to provide a standtype cabinet inwhich the stanchions for supporting the cabinet therebetween areconstructed so as to be incapable of being maintained in an uprightposition unless the cabinet is backed against a vertical wall.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stand cabinet which issupported off the floor by means of a pair of spaced-apart stanchionmembers that are adjustable to vary the height of the cabinet supportedtherebetween from the floor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stand cabinetconstruction in which the cabinet portion is provided with a full frontopening which is closed by a closure which is both hingedly and slidablyconnected to the open front of the cabinet so as to provide for maximumaccess to the cabinet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stand cabinet which isrelatively simple in construction, inexpensive to fabricate, andpositive in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved closureconstruction for the open front end of a cabinet which is arranged toenable the closure to be either folded and/or shifted from side to sidealong the front opening of the cabinet to provide easy access thereto.

Summary of invention The foregoing objects and other features andadvantages of this invention are attained by a space-saving standcabinet comprising a cabinet supported between a pair of spaced-apartupright stanchions which have an overall length which is less than thefloor-to-ceiling height of a room in which the cabinet is to be placed.The stanchions are each provided with a laterally extending foot portionhaving a downwardly turned end portion for supporting the stand cabineton a supporting surface or floor so as to render the stand cabinetincapable of being supported in an upright position unless the cabinetportion is leaned against a vertical wall. The cabinet constructioncomprises a box-shaped construction the back of which is adapted to restagainst the upright wall to maintain the stand in a vertical position.The front of the cabinet is provided with a full front opening which isadapted to be closed by a plurality of closure segments which arecapable of being both folded and/or slidably moved from side to sidealong the open front of the cabinet to provide easy access to anyportion of the cabinet. An intermediate shelf may be provided andsupported on the stanchion in spaced relationship to the cabinetsupported thereon. If desired, the respective stanchion members may bemade of a plurality of segmented component parts which may befrictionally fitted together to render the height of the stanchionadjustable within predetermined limits depending upon the number ofstanchion segments so secured.

Features of the invention A feature of this invention resides in animproved stand-type, space-saving cabinet which is supported on a pairof stanchions having a length less than the floor-toceiling height of aroom in which such cabinet stand is to be used.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision that thecabinet is supported on a pair of stanchions which are otherwiseincapable of being vertically supported unless the cabinet is backedagainst a vertical wall.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of aspace-saving stand cabinet that can be utilized in any room of thehouse.

Another feature of this invention resides in an improved stand cabinetthat can be readily disassembled or assembled Without the use of anytools and which is pleasing in appearance and positive in operation.

Another feature of this invention resides in an improved cabinetconstruction that is provided with a full open front which is suitablyclosed by a plurality of closure panels which can be both folded andslidably moved from side to side to provide for easy access to thecabinet.

Other features and variations will become more readily apparent whenconsidered in view of the drawings and specification in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stand cabinet of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the stand cabinet construction of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cabinet portion of thestand cabinet of FIG. 1, illustrating the closure portion of the cabinetin an open position.

FIG. 4 is a front detail view of the cabinet portion of the stand,having portions thereof broken away.

FIG. 5 is a detail construction of the intermediate shelf portion of thecabinet stand of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a detail side view of the cabinet portion of the stand of FIG.1, having portions thereof shown in section.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along line 7-7 on FIG.1.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along line 8-8 on FIG.1.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a stand cabinet 10 utilizingthe invention to be herein described. The stand cabinet 10 comprises apair of upright stanchions 11 and 11 which are disposed in spaced-apartrelationship. While each of the perspective stanchions 11, 11 may beformed as an integral component part of a tubular or rodlike member, itis preferred that each of the respective stanchions 11 and 11 be formedof a plurality of connected stanchion sections. In the illustratedembodiment the respective stanchion sections A, B, C, D and E areinterfitted one to another to form a stanchion 11 of any desired length.Preferably the adjacent end portions of the adjacent stanchion sectionsA-E are constructed and arranged so that an upper segment can befrictionally fitted and connected to the upper end of the next subjacentsegment. In order to attain this it will be noted that the upper end 12of each of the respective stanchion segments is provided with a reducedportion or diameter which can be snugly received in frictionalinterlocking relationship with the lower end 13 of the next adjacentupper stanchion section. (See FIG. 1A). In this manner the respectivestanchion sections AE can be secured one to another to form a stanchionof any desired length.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lowermost stanchion segment A of eachstanchion is provided with a laterally offset, forwardly extending legportion 14 which terminates in downwardly bent foot portion 15. As bestseen in FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the construction of therespective stanchions 11, 11 is such that each is incapable of beingsupported in an upright position due to the forwardly extending legportion 14 which terminates in a laterally disposed foot portion. Thus,the center of gravity of the respective stanchions 11, 11 is such thatthere is a tendency for the stanchions 11, 11 to lean in the directionof the upright wall 15 against which the stand cabinet 10 is adapted tobe rested in the operative position thereof.

If desired, one or more cross-bars 16 can be extended between thespaced-apart stanchions to maintain the spaced relationshiptherebet-ween.

A cabinet 17 is supported on and between the upper ends of therespective stanchions 11, 11. Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 the cabinetconstruction 17 comprises a top wall member 18 and a bottom wall member19 which are interconnected in spaced relationship by a U- shaped backframe 20 which defines opposed side walls 21, 22 and an interconnectingrear wall 23. The cabinet so constructed defines a box-like structurehaving a full open front 24. If desired, the opposed side wall of thecabinet may be provided with an inwardly turned frontdefining flange21A, 22A. Also a centerpost 25 may be interconnected between the top andbottom walls 18, 19 adjacent the front opening of the cabinet dependingupon the width of the cabinet opening to provide an intermediatesupport. Thus the inturned flanges 21A, 22A and the intermediate frontpost 25 define supporting means for reinforcing the open front of thecabinet.

Referring to FIG. 6 it will be noted that the top wall member 18 isprovided with upwardly turned flange portion 18A extending along itsfront edge, and if desired the flange 18A may be extended along the rearedge as well as the opposed side edges to define a circumscribing flangeabout the entire top wall 18. The bottom Wall 19 is likewise providedwith a circumscribing depending flange 19A extending along its frontedge and continuing about the entire periphery thereof.

If desired, an intermediate shelf 26 may be provided within the cabinet.As seen in FIG. 6 the shelf 26 extends between the opposed side walls21, 22 of the cabinet.

The intermediate shelf 26 comprises an elongated plate member having adownwardly turned flange portion 26A extending along its rear edge bywhich the shelf may be suitably connected to the rear wall as forexample by spot-welding and/ or by utilizing any suitably fasteningmeans. The forward edge of the intermediate shelf 26 is provided with anupwardly turned flange portion 26B. Accordingly the front flange 26Bwill prevent any articles supported on the shelf from being accidentlyknocked off the shelf.

The front edge of the shelf is supported by means of a pair of tubularsockets 27 which are suitably secured to the respective side walls ofthe cabinet 21, 22 by means of a pin, rivet or other suitable fastener28. For reasons to be hereinafter noted, the bottom wall 19 is providedwith an opening 29 disposed in alignment with the lower end of therespective tubular sockets 27 which support the front end of theintermediate shelf. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tubular socket 27in the assembled position of the stand cabinet defines an extension ofthe upper extremity of the stanchion members E and the means by whichthe cabinet 17 is supported on the upper end of the stanchions 11, 11.Accordingly it will be noted that when the stanchion members A, B, C, D,and E are stacked one on the other, the cabinet 17 is suitably supported on the upper ends by effecting alignment of the uppermoststanchion segment E with opening 29 and the tubular socket 27. Aspreviously described, the upper end portion of stanchion segment E isprovided with a reduced end portion which can be frictionally receivedwithin the lower end of the tubular socket 27, thereby maintaining thecabinet in position on and between the respective stanchion members.

The arrangement is such that the stanchion 11, 11 and cabinet 17supported thereon are incapable of being maintained in an uprightposition because of the boot portion of the respective stanchions beinglaterally disposed to the center of gravity of the completed stand. Forthis reason, to support the stand cabinet 10 in an upright position, itmust be backed up in the upright position against a vertical supportingsurface 15 as seen in FIG. 2. The normal tendency of the cabinet to leanagainst such wall will support the cabinet.

In accordance with this invention the front opening 24 or the cabinet isclosed by a closure 30 which is both slidably and pivotly mountedrelative 1 the open front of the cabinet. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG.3, the closure member comprises a plurality of panel closure components31, 32, 33 which are suitably connected to one another as will behereinafter described. In the illustrated form of the invention thefront closure comprises of at least three sections. The centermostcomponent section comprises a panel 31 which has a width which issubstantially less than the width of the overall front opening of thecabinet, and the upper and lower edges 31A, 31B of the center panel arereversely bent so as to hook over the upper and lower flange portions18A, 19A extending along the respective front edges of the top andbottom wall. The edge portions 31A, 31B of the center panel 31 reverselybent over the edges of the flange 18A, 19A extending along the front ofthe top and bottom walls is such as to enable the panel 31 to beslidably connected therealong. In this manner the center panel 31 isrendered free to slide from side to side along the entire opening of thecabinet, the movement in either direction being limited by the flangeportion along the opposed side edges of the top and bottom walls. Ifdesired, a plate mirror 31C may be suitably secured to the sliding panel31 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. End closure panels 32, 33 arehingedly connected to each side of the sliding closure panel about hingepins 34, 35. In the illustrated form of the invention the hingedlyconnected end closure panels 32, 33 comprise a mirrored surface so thatthe entire front of the cabinet is defined by a mirrored surface.

Since the end closure panels 32, 33 are free to pivot with respect tothe center closure panel 31, access may be had to the cabinet fromeither end portion of the cabinet by swinging the end panels 32, 33relative to the center panel 31. The opening thus defined by theswinging of the respective end closure panels 32, 33 can be furtherenlarged by sliding the central closure 31 to which the end closurepanels 32, 33 are connected to one side or the other of the cabinet. Theclosure 30'thus described provides access to either side of the cabinetas may be required.

Another advantage attained by the described closure is that by providingthe respective closure panels with a mirror surface, the respective endclosure panels 32, 33 may be pivoted relative to the center panel 31 soas to provide a dressing mirror which permits the person standing beforethe mirrored closure panels 31, 32, 33 to observe himor herself fromvarious angles to facilitate dressing and/or making up. The closure thusdescribed provides means of access to the cabinet from either side and ameans capable of defining dressing mirror enabling a person standingbefore it to observe himor herself from various angles.

If desired, suitable locking or latching means may be provided forsecuring the end closure panels 32, 33 in the closed position when thecenter panel 31 is centrally disposed. In the illustrated form of theinvention it is preferred that the looking or latching means comprises amagnetic catch 36 and complementary magnetically attractive latch 37.Accordingly, as best seen in FIG. 4 a magnetic catch 36 is disposed in asuitable opening 36A formed in the front flange 21A, "22A. Therespective end closure panel in turn is provided with a magneticallyattracted latch '37 disposed in alignment with the magnetic catch 36 sothat when the latch of the end closure panel is disposed contiguous tothe magnetic catch 36 the magnetic attraction between the latch 37 andthe catch 36 is such that the end panels 32, 33 are maintained in aclosed position, and which can be readily swung to an open position whenthe force is applied to the end panels 32, 33 sufficiently to overcomethe magnetic attraction between the catch 36 and the latch 37.

To facilitate the relative sliding moment of the central panel of theclosure relative to the front opening of the cabinet, a nylon insert orguide 38 may be disposed between the reversely bent end portions 31A,31B of the central panel 31 to minimize friction and/or play between thecentral closure panel 31 and the guide flanges 18A, 19A extending alongthe front and rear wall of the cabinet.

With the stand cabinet 10 thus described, it will be readily apparentthat the cabinet can be supported in an upright position merely bypositioning the stanchion members 11, 11 adjacent to a vertical uprightwall 15 so that the rear wall 23 of the cabinet 17 rests thereagainst.Eln the described invention the stanchions 11, 11 are not required toextend between floor to ceiling as heretofore required in the previouslyknown stand type cabinets. Y

If desired, an intermediate tray-like shelf 39 may be disposed below thecabinet 17 as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. This is attained by providinga shelf 39 with connected tubular segment or socket D, one on each sideof the shelf.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be noted that the tubular socket Ddefines an intermediate portion of the stanchion-s 11, 11 and sockets Dare adapted to be frictionally secured to the adjacent stanchionsections in a manner hereinbefore described. Accordingly it will benoted that the shelf 39 may be interposed between any adjacent stanchionsection A-E so that the height thereof may be varied with respect to thecabinet 17 sup ported between the stanchion members.

In the illustrated form of the invention the shelf 39 X is provided witha circumscribing flange 39A which functions to retain any articlessupported thereon from being accidently knocked off the shelf.

While the instant invention has been described with respect to aparticular embodiment thereof, it will be readily understood andappreciated that variations and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A readily knocked-down space-saving wall cabinet constructioncomprising:

a pair of spaced-apart upright stanchions,

each of said stanchions including a plurality of stanchion segments,

each of stanchion segments having complementary interfitting endportions whereby adjacent segments are frictionally fitted together todefine an adjustable stanchion whereby the overall height of saidstanchions is less than the fioor-to-ceiling height of a room in whichsaid cabinet is to be placed,

each of said stanchions having its lowermost segment formed with aforwardly extending portion tenninating in a downwardly turned footportion, said forwardly extending portion being slightly spaced above asupporting surface in substantially parallel relationship thereto,

a cabinet connected to the upper ends of said stanchions whereby thecenter of gravity of said cabinet is eccentrically disposed with respectto the feet portion of said stanchions, whereby said cabinet isincapable of being mounted in an unsupported upright position whenassembled unless said cabinet is backed against a wall,

said cclabinet including opposed top and bottom walls,

a U-shaped member defining opposed side walls and rear wall connectedbetween said top and bottom walls to define a full openfront cabinet,

a vertically disposed tubular socket secured to the inside of each sidewall,

and said bottom wall having an opening disposed in alignment with eachof said sockets, whereby said tubular socket and openings in the bottomwalls being adapted to receive the upper end of the uppermost stanchionsegment to support said cabinet therebetween by frictionallyinterconnecting said tubular sockets to said upper end of the respectivestanchions,

and a closure means for closing the open front of said cabinet,

said closure means including a central panel extending between said topand bottom walls and having a width which is less than the width of theopening,

means for slidably connecting said panel across the width of saidopening,

hinge means connected to the opposed end portions of said panel,

and an end panel hingedly connected by said hinge means to each side ofsaid lpanel whereby the sum of the widths of the respective panel andhingedly connected end panels is equal to substantially the width of theopen cabinet front, whereby said end closure .panels are free to swingrelative to said central closure panel between open and closed positionsand to slide from side to side between open and closed positions,

and magnetic catches for maintaining said end panels closed when saidsliding panel is disposed centrally of said cabinet opening.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said sliding meansinclude:

flanges extending along the front edges of said top and bottom walls ofthe cabinet,

and said central closure panel includes reversely bent end portionsadapted to hook over said flanges in sliding relationship therewith, and

a nylon insert to minimize sliding friction between said reversely bentend portions and said flanges.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 and including a tray shelfconnected to and between intermediately disposed stanchion segmentswhereby said shelf is spaced from the bottom of said cabinet andintermediate the height of said stanchions.

4. A space-saving wall cabinet comprising:

a pair of spaced-apart upright stanchions,

said stanchions being shorter than the floor-to-ceiling height of a roomin which said cabinet is placed,

a cabinet means supported on the end portions of said stanchions,

and said stanchions having forwardly extending feet portions adapted torest on a support surface,

said feet portions being incapable of supporting said stanchions andconnected cabinet in an unsupported upright position unless said cabinetis backed against a vertical wall portion of a room,

said cabinet comprising a top wall and a bottom wall,

said top wall having an upwardly extending flange eX- tending along theforward edge thereof,

and said bottom wall having a depending flange extending along theforward edge thereof,

and a pair of opposed side walls and interconnected rear wall connectedbetween said top and bottom wall to define a cabinet having a full openfront,

and means for detachably securing said cabinet to the upper end of saidstanchion members,

means for closing the open front of said cabinet,

said closure means including a panel having a width which is less thanthe width of the open front of said cabinet,

means for slidably connecting said panel for random movement across theopen front of said cabinet,

and connected end panels hinged connected to each side of said slidingpanel,

the sum of the width of the respective connected end panels being equalto substantially the width of the front opening of the cabinet less thewidth of the sliding panel.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said end panelsof said closure includes a mirror.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 and including a mirror connectedto said sliding panel, and each of said mirrors being substantiallyco-extensive to their respective panel portions.

7. A space-saving wall cabinet comprising:

a pair of spaced-apart upright stanchions,

said stanchions being shorter than the fioor-to-ceiling height of a roomin which said cabinet is placed,

a cabinet means supported on the end portions of said stanchions. andsaid stanchions having forwardly extending feet portions adapted to reston a supporting surface,

said feet portions being incapable of supporting said stanchions andconnected cabinet in an unsupported upright position unless said cabinetis backed against a vertical wall portion of a room,

and a shelf tray supported between said stanchions intermediate theheight thereof.

8. A space-saving wall cabinet comprising:

a pair of spaced-apart upright stanchions,

said stanchions being shorter than the floor-to-ceiling height of a roomin which said cabinet is placed,

a cabinet means supported on the end portions of said stanchions, andsaid stanchions having forwardly extending feet portions adapted to reston a supporting surface,

said feet portions being incapable of supporting said stanchions andconnected cabinet in an unsupported upright position unless said cabinetis backed against a vertical wall portion of a room,

and a cross-bar connected between said stanchions adjacent the feetportions thereof.

9. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for slidablyconnecting said panel to the open front of said cabinet include:

reversely bent end portions connected to the upper and lower portions ofsaid panel, and

said reversely bent end portions of said panel being adapted to hookover the respective flanges of said top and bottom wall of said cabinet,whereby said panel is free to slide along said flanges.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 and including a nylon insertdisposed in the reversely bent end portions of said closure panel tofacilitate movement of said panel across the front opening of saidcabinet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,144,772 1/1939 Plants 248--127X 1,966,800 7/1934 Katzman 312-225 2,699,705 1/1955 Csvercsko et al.248-127 2,992,743 7/1961 Wing 108-48 3,343,899 9/1967 Cousins et al.248230 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

